The Only Way is Up for Westwood  
Lee Westwood leapfrogged 50 spots in the world rankings at the weekend and qualified for this week’s Amex WGC tournament in America.
The Worksop 30-year-old has risen 121 places this year after his three-year free-fall down the pecking order and is now within shooting distance of the all-important world top 50.
Westwood’s second win in a month at the dunhill links championship at St.Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns also sent him soaring to fourth in the Volvo Order of Merit behind Ernie Els, stablemate Darren Clarke, and Ian Poulter.
The former European No.1 ended another emotional tournament by pipping world No.2 Els by one shot at the home of golf.
“It didn’t use to be my favourite venue, but I still dreamed of winning here one day and it’s a fantastic feeling to do it,” said Westwood.
First to pay tribute to Westwood’s amazing comeback was his playing partner for the first three days, manager Chubby Chandler.
“Lee was away for a long time, but he will be back for much, much longer,” he said.   “I thought at the start of the season that this year would see him return as a force, but not in quite the way he has shown.
“It just shows that whatever else left him, the ability to win - and that’s a different quality to just playing well - never did.  It also shows that hard work and dedication do pay off eventually.”
Clarke started the last day just one shot behind his good friend, but the ball striking that has turned him into currently the world’s most consistent player could not be duplicated when his putter came out.